Academic photos

Alumni spotlight

Ronan Farrow

1999

AA in Liberal Arts 1999, BA in Philosophy, Bard College Journalist Ronan Farrow shook up Hollywood. His reporting, which exposed rampant sexual misconduct, not only propelled the #MeToo movement, but earned The New Yorker a Pulitzer Prize for public service. At the age of 30, Ronan has become an inspiration for aspiring journalists, the LGBTQ+ community, and young leaders everywhere. His message to Simon’s Rock graduates at the 2011 commencement still rings true: “Now more than ever, young people are at the very core of changing world events. You are at the very core of changing world events.”

Veronica Chambers

1997

Literary Studies-1987 Veronica Chambers is an acclaimed Afro-Latina author. Her critically praised memoir, Mama's Girl, has been widely taught in American schools. With four New York Times bestsellers, her works often focus on her unique heritage. A former senior editor at major magazines, she speaks and reads both Spanish and Spanglish fluently. Currently, she's a JSK Knight fellow at Stanford University.

Joel and Ethan Coen

1971

Joel graduated 1971 and Ethan 1974 Joel and Ethan Coen are award-winning filmmakers with many of their works exploring aspects of American culture. They've been nominated for 14 Oscars, winning 4 and with their unique style, they created many beloved and iconic films - such as Fargo, ranked as one of the 100 greatest American movies by the AFI.

Alison Bechdel

1979

AA in Liberal Arts 1979 Alison Bechdel was already a critically lauded groundbreaking cartoonist (via the hilarious/heartbreaking syndicated comic strip Dykes To Watch Out For, origin of the famous "Bechdel test"), when in 2006 she published Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, a painstakingly intricate examination of family dynamics in her childhood home (focusing on her closeted bisexual father’s suicide and her own simultaneous coming-out as a lesbian), which was named Time magazine’s Best Book of 2006, and was a finalist for the National Book Award. On April 6, 2017, Bechdel was appointed as Vermont's third Cartoonist Laureate.

John McWhorter

1981

Linguistics, AA 1981 John McWhorter is a linguist who specializes in creole languages, dialects and African-American English. He is an associate professor at Columbia University, where he teaches American studies and music history, and is also the author of several books about race and African-American culture.

Campus experience

Campus Life at Simon's Rock

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Understanding Early College

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Meet Our Students: Sam Yarmis

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Meet Our Students: Ishmael Asante

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Meet Our Students: Marisa Benitez

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Campus photos

Campus tour

Campus Tour of Bard College at Simon's Rock

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Degree options

Major

A sample of degree options for this offering

African American & African Studies

This concentration considers the great range of experiences of African Americans historically and in the present. Students who choose this concentration consider the many ways African Americans have negotiated the issue of race within a predominantly white society, using strategies that range from assimilation to separatism. In this concentration, students are encouraged to think critically about the concept of race and the crucial role of language and culture in defining racial difference at distinct historical moments. Students analyze history, theory, and cultural representations made by African Americans in order to increase their understanding of black achievement and oppression.

Offerings: Major

Anthropology

Search for answers to the deepest questions about human beings by studying people and cultures at various times and places, and from different perspectives. Course subjects include religion, language, colonialism, gender, cultural representation, and urban living. Student-designed tutorials allow you to focus on a topic of special personal interest.

Offerings: Major

Bard Queer Leadership Project at Simon’s Rock

Launching Fall 2023 The Bard Queer Leadership Project (BQLP) is a revolutionary, new Bachelor of Arts degree program designed for, and by, LGBTQIA+ college students to elevate LGBTQIA+ students and college graduates into leadership roles in school and across the workforce…while serving as a space for actualizing educational practices designed for students to thrive.

Offerings: Major

Faculty spotlight

Ben Krupka

Professor of Ceramics, Sculpture, 3D Design

Ben Krupka is a prolific ceramicist who has completed two residencies at Archie Bray and taught workshops globally. His work has been shown in multiple galleries, colleges, and museums, as well as being published in books and periodicals. He also engages in sculptural and design work outside of the ceramic studio.

Francisca Oyogoa

Assistant Professor of Sociology and African American Studies

Francisca Oyogoa's research focuses on the intersection of racial, ethnic, gender, and national hierarchies in the workplace. She is also the recipient of numerous research grants and an award for excellence in teaching.

Maryann Tebben

Professor of French, Head of Center for Food Studies

A specialist in early modern French and Italian literature, Tebben has studied food culture and national identity in France. She has presented at conferences including the IEHCA & Umbra Institute.

Mike Bergman

Professor of Physics

Dr. Bergman is an accomplished researcher and has had numerous papers published, some co-authored with students. His expertise has led him to act as a Teaching Fellow at Harvard University and Visiting Professor at the École normale supérieure de Lyon in France, while his most recent position is as Instructor in Volcanology with the Tropical Studies Signature Program on Montserrat.

Anne O'Dwyer

Professor of Psychology, Director of Institutional Research

Dr. O'Dwyer is an accomplished psychologist and educator, with her works published in many leading journals. Her students have presented research at national and regional gatherings. After teaching at Boston College and UMass, she served as President of the New England Psychological Association, before becoming Simon's Rock's associate and then academic dean.

John Myers

Professor of Music, Electronic Arts, and Cultural Studies

Dr. Myers is a composer, performer, media developer, and author, and has a broad range of activities that reflect his expanding interests and areas of professional engagement. He often performs as a guitarist, either as a soloist or in ensembles, playing jazz and Western classical music.

Chris Coggins

Professor of Geography and Asian Studies, Division of Social Studies

Dr. Coggins's research focuses on rural China, political ecology, biodiversity, sacred landscapes, protected area management, globalization, and property/possession. He has led students and faculty on eight trips to China since 1999 and has published refereed articles in many geography, environment. Since 2011, he has led teams engaged in a multi-year, mixed methods, field and archival research project on the fengshui forests of southern and central China. His work on the history of humans and tigers in China has been featured on BBC 4's Natural Histories.

Mileta Roe

Professor of Spanish and Comparative Literature

Dr. Roe's areas of specialty include: Latin America narrative, critical theory, francophone and Spanish-language film, and the adaptation of stories across artistic and linguistic boundaries. Her work has appeared in the Canadian Review of Comparative Literature, Scope: An Online Journal of Film Studies, and Literary Journalism Studies. Dr. Roe has also taught at Brandeis University and Boston College and is a former staff editor for the Atlantic Monthly.

Dien Vo

Faculty in Film and Media Studies

Dien is an independent filmmaker and multimedia artist with interests in Art Cinema, modernist movements, aesthetics, community media, and micro-budget filmmaking. Before joining Bard College at Simon’s Rock, he taught at the University at Buffalo and Virginia Tech, where he co-developed the filmmaking program.

David Myers

Professor of Chemistry, Division Head for Science, Mathematics, and Computing

Dr. Myers' research has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the Journal of Organic Chemistry, and Tetrahedron Letters and he has co-authored papers in the American Journal of Physics and Trends in Plant Science with Eric Kramer. Along with colleague Michael Ducey , Dr. Myers has published a laboratory exercise in theoretical chemistry for introductory students in The Chemical Educator.

Local area

Great Barrington, Massachusetts-The Berkshires

Cobblestone roads, colonial architecture and nature's beauty. Vibrant Main Street shops and eateries, plus rock climbing and skiing in the nearby mountains.

Top things to do

Hiking

From Appalachian to leisurely meadows and the tallest peak at their summit. Gear up with Berkshire Bike & Board, a local outfitter.

Skiing/Snowboarding

Winter sports abound at Catamount, Butternut, Jiminy Peak, and Bousquet which offer an incredible way to see nature with forests that are perfect for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing as well.

Adventure Parks

The Berkshires are home to several adventure parks including The Catamount Aerial Adventure Park, the Bousquet and Ramblewild's.

Cultural and Historic Sites

There is an incredible range of cultural, art and historical activities available in The Berkshires, from enormous homes of the Gilded Age to museums and stunning gardens.

Religious life

Bard College at Simon's Rock is does not hold any religious affiliation.

Religious affiliation

None

Sacred spaces and religious facilities

Student groups

Student-run groups and organizations

7

Black Student Union

Student Group

Human Rights Club

Student Group

Study away & study abroad

We’ll help you follow your path wherever it leads—around the world and back, or maybe to one of our distinguished partner programs. Monserrat students in ocean with netOur signature programs ensure that whether you study away or stay on campus in your junior year, you’ll be able to broaden your view and work with talented and influential thinkers from outside the Simon’s Rock community. It’s a cross-pollination of ideas that strengthens our BA program and makes your time here even more valuable.

Featured programs

Dual Degree Engineering Programs with Columbia or Dartmouth

Study three years at Simon’s Rock and two years at either Columbia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science or Dartmouth College. In completing the two degrees, you will have a well-rounded foundation in the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will make you a better engineer.

Location: New York City or Hanover, USA

Spanish Studies Abroad: The Center for Cross-Cultural Study–Spain, Argentina, Cuba, or Puerto Rico

The Center for Cross-Cultural Studies offers programs in Seville or Alicante, Spain, at the University of Cordoba in Argentina, in Havana, Cuba, or in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Students studying Spanish and Latin American Studies at Simon's Rock have the opportunity to spend a summer, semester, or year in residence intensively studying the Spanish language in one of these locations.

Location: Various, Spain, Argentina, Cuba, Puerto Rico

Traditions

Book One

Every year Simon’s Rock selects a book that promotes interdisciplinary conversations about the intersection of cultures by a contemporary living author. Book One is an opportunity to read a great book, discuss it with the author, and hear others reflect on the same text. Programs like Book One provide a common language and a touchstone for further conversations.

Rock the Community

Volunteers team up and head off to project sites across campus and across the county to improve gardens, trails and woodlands, build bridges, write letters to troops, visit area youth and seniors, and support nearby community organizations. A way for the Simon’s Rock community to give back.

Dolliver Drag

Residents of Dolliver Residence Hall invite their fellow students to suit up, get glam, and strut their stuff. Rooted in a cherished Simon's Rock tradition, Dolliver Drag is a night of expression, embodiment, and performance.

Mayfest

Mayfest is a much-appreciated tradition that breaks the tension and rings in each spring.Things warm up with the Dance Concert and keep going for a full four days of performances, celebration, good food, and bounce house carnival fun. Students do the time warp again with a Rocky Horror Picture Show screening, and get colorful during a Holi Festival Celebration. There’s even a formal dance with officially excellent music.

Grants and scholarships

Simon's Rock Scholarships

Berkshire Regional Scholarships

Bard Queer Leadership Scholarship

Elizabeth Blodgett Hall and Livingston Hall Scholarships

Clark Early College Fellows Scholarship

Young Writer's Workshop Scholarships

W.E.B. Dubois Scholarships

CTY Scholarships

Aids the financial need of students who have completed two Center for Talented Youth residential summer courses after completing the 9th or 10th grade, or two CTY online courses in the 9th, 10th, or 11th grade. Students must be applicants new to Simon's Rock, have earned a minimum of a B in the courses taken, and must submit all CTY transcripts and comments at the time of application.

Learn more here

Summer Institute for the Gifted Scholarships

Annual cost

Tuition	$61,600
Room & Board	$17,200
Books, supplies, and other	$5,500

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